Forms
of Nakago Jiri

The Nakago Jiri is the extreme tip of the tang. It is shaped in various
stylised ways which can be a useful indicator when identifying the swordmaking
school of a particular blade. The forms shown below are typical examples of
each named category. In practice swordsmiths made many variations of these jiri
which are often hard to classify.

Yamashiro
Jiri

Named after Yamashiro province, this jiri is a
defining feature of the Yamashiro Den swordmaking style. The
form is also found in the Yamato Den style.

Kengyô
Jiri

Often seen on Sôshû Den blades, this jiri is
named after the tip of the Ken, a type of early straight sword
often portrayed in Horimono (carvings on the surface of
blades)

Iriyamagata
Jiri

Named after a particular shape of woodsman's axe. It is seen on
some Yamato swords, those made in the Hokuriku region,
and some blades produced during the Shintô period.

Kuri
Jiri

So named because of the resemblance of the jiri shape to
a Kuri or 'chestnut'. This shape is the one most often seen,
and has been popular in many schools and periods.

Ha-agari
Kuri Jiri

This translates as 'sloping chestnut' and is found in many
schools and periods.

Ichimonji
Jiri

Ichimonji means 'straight line' and indicates that the
nakago tip ends abruptly as a straight line across. It is seen
on swords of the Hôshô school of the Kamakura period.

Kiri
Jiri

Kiri translates as 'end' or 'all there is'. This name
applies when the nakago has been shortened by being cut across
in Ichimonji style.